Chester, California Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Chester, CA?

Yes, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Chester, Nova Scotia, subject to municipal licensing and provincial registration requirements. The Municipality of Chester requires all accommodations operating within its boundaries to obtain a licence to advertise, promote, or carry on business. There is no fee to obtain the STR licence from the Municipality of Chester, making it an accessible opportunity for investors.

The municipality defines short-term rentals as accommodations providing lodging for periods of 28 days or less, encompassing various property types including apartments, houses, condominiums, duplexes, townhouses, secondary suites, vacation homes, and even unconventional lodgings like yurts and stationary RVs.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Chester?

Chester hosts earn a median $28,642/year with $213 ADR and 52% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $42,941+ per year.

See the full Chester market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Chester

Starting an STR business in Chester requires a systematic approach involving both municipal licensing and provincial registration:

Step 1: Municipal Licensing Process

Verify Property Compliance
- Ensure you have a valid occupancy permit
- Confirm no open work orders exist with the Municipality of Chester that are relevant to STR operation
- Verify your property complies with applicable municipal land-use by-laws
Complete Municipal Application
- Submit online application through the municipal portal
- Application review takes approximately 30 days
- Each property requires a separate licence
Prepare Required Documentation
- Proof of insurance for the property
- Simple site sketch (templates available)
- Condo board authorization letter (if applicable)
- Property owner authorization if applying on behalf of owner
- Property Identification Number (PID)

Step 2: Provincial Registration

Under Nova Scotia's Short-term Rentals Registration Regulations (effective September 30, 2024), you must register with the Province of Nova Scotia and pay annual registration taxes. The registration class determines your tax obligations:

Whole Home Primary Residence STR: $50 annual tax
Commercial STR: $500-$2,000 annual tax (Chester falls in Tier 2 at $500 per dwelling unit)
Traditional Tourist Accommodation: $50-$150 annual tax (depending on bedroom count)
Platform Operators: $500 annual tax

Step 3: Marketing Levy Compliance

Beginning January 1, 2026, a 3% marketing levy will be collected from guests by booking platforms and remitted directly to the Municipality of Chester.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Municipal Requirements

Documents for Chester STR Licence:

Proof of Insurance - Coverage for property operations
Site Sketch - Simple diagram showing property layout (sample templates available)
Authorization Letter - Condo board confirmation if applicable
Property Authorization - If submitting on behalf of property owner
Property Identification Number (PID) - Must list all PID numbers if multiple exist
Valid Occupancy Permit - Required before licence issuance
No Open Work Orders - Municipality must have no relevant unresolved violations

Provincial Requirements

Nova Scotia Registration Documents:

Full Legal Name and any business names
Property Address where STR operates
Bedroom Count available for rent
Municipal Compliance Confirmation - Must demonstrate land-use by-law compliance
Primary Residence Proof (if applicable) - Driver's licence, tax return, property tax bill, lease agreement, or other qualifying documents
Property Owner Consent - Written authorization if not the owner
Condo Board Authorization - If property is a condominium unit

Special Considerations

For Commercial STRs:

Annual registration tax of $500 per dwelling unit (Chester is Tier 2)
Must maintain compliance with municipal by-laws
Additional documentation may be required based on property type

For Traditional Tourist Accommodations:

Annual tax: $50 (1-4 bedrooms) or $150 (5+ bedrooms)
Includes bed & breakfasts, hotels, motels, personal vacation homes, rented rooms, resort establishments, and unusual lodgings

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

Municipal Level (Chester)

Licensing Requirements:

Licence required for each property operating as STR
No municipal fee for STR licence
Occupancy permit mandatory
No open work orders related to STR operations permitted
Compliance with municipal, provincial, and federal law required
Liability insurance covering STR operations mandatory

Operational Guidelines:

Maximum rental duration: 28 days or less
Registration number must appear in all online advertisements
Must maintain compliance with applicable municipal by-laws at all times
Changes to registration information must be reported within 10 days

Marketing Levy (Effective January 1, 2026):

3% levy collected by booking platforms from guests
Revenue split between local tourism marketing and regional destination marketing
Platforms remit directly to Municipality of Chester

Provincial Level (Nova Scotia)

Registration Classification:

Whole Home Primary Residence STR
- Entire primary residence rented as STR
- $50 annual registration tax
- Must be ordinary resident's primary dwelling
Commercial STR
- Non-primary residence properties
- $500 annual tax per dwelling unit (Chester Tier 2)
- Includes secondary suites and backyard suites (unless primary residence)
Traditional Tourist Accommodation
- Bed & breakfasts, hotels, motels, hostels
- Personal vacation homes (limited to 150 days per year)
- Unusual lodgings (yurts, domes, stationary RVs, bunkies)
- $50-$150 annual tax based on bedroom count

Operational Requirements:

All STRs limited to 28 consecutive days or less
Registration renewals required annually
Platform operators must collect and remit marketing levy
Municipal compliance must be maintained throughout registration period

Compliance Enforcement:

Fines from $1,000 to $100,000 for violations
Separate violations for each day of continued non-compliance
Registration can be denied, cancelled, revoked, or suspended for violations

Contact Information for Local Authority

Municipality of Chester STR Licensing

Ashley Marlin
Community Economic Development Officer
Phone: 902-277-1571
Email: tourism@chester.ca
Website: chester.ca/short-term-rental-license

Economic Development Department
Phone: 902-275-4147
Email: ecodev@chester.ca

Brian Webb
Senior Economic Development Officer
Phone: 902-275-4147
Email: bwebb@chester.ca

Mailing Address:
Municipality of The District of Chester
P.O. Box 369
Chester, NS B0J 1J0

Provincial Registration

Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Registration Portal: beta.novascotia.ca/register-your-tourist-accommodation
Phone: Contact local Access Nova Scotia office
Website: novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/strentals.htm

Links to Source Pages

Municipal Sources

Provincial Sources

Supporting Documents

Tourism Resources

This comprehensive regulatory framework positions Chester as a supportive jurisdiction for STR investments, with clear pathways to compliance and reasonable tax structures. The combination of no municipal licensing fees and tiered provincial registration taxes creates opportunities for both small-scale and commercial STR operations while ensuring proper oversight and community benefit through the marketing levy.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Chester

Chester is a small mountain community tucked into the northeastern Sierra Nevada in Plumas County, California, with an approximate population of around 2,000 residents. The town has a quiet, rustic character, with a main street of locally owned shops, cafes, and outfitters catering to outdoor enthusiasts, and it serves as a year-round base for visitors exploring the surrounding forests, lakes, and volcanic landscapes. Chester is best known as a gateway to Lassen Volcanic National Park, and it sits on the shores of Lake Almanor, a large alpine reservoir. The nearest major city is Sacramento, which lies roughly 130 miles to the southwest, about a two-and-a-half to three-hour drive through the foothills and mountains.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is the marquee draw of the region, with its mix of steaming fumaroles, boiling mud pots, sulfurous vents, and craggy peaks shaped by past eruptions. The park's northwest entrance is about a 30-to-45-minute drive west of Chester along the highway through the forest, and from there visitors can continue to the Bumpass Hell hydrothermal area or up the trail to the summit of Lassen Peak itself, one of the few active volcanoes in the lower 48. More information is available through the Lassen Volcanic National Park website.

Lake Almanor stretches along the edge of Chester and is the town's defining natural feature, a clear reservoir set against forested shorelines and the distant silhouette of Mt. Lassen. Anglers target trout, salmon, and bass, while kayakers, paddleboarders, and sailors share the water in summer, and the lake becomes a destination for ice fishing and snowmobiling once it freezes in winter. A handful of public boat ramps and small beaches make the lake accessible to day-trippers staying in town.

A short drive south brings visitors to the historic town of Quincy, the Plumas County seat, known for its well-preserved nineteenth-century architecture, art galleries, and a more developed set of restaurants and services than Chester. About 30 minutes to the north, near the community of Old Station, the Subway Cave lava tube offers an easy, family-friendly underground walk through a cooled lava flow created by past eruptions from the Lassen volcanic complex.

In combination, Chester's compact size, mountain setting, and proximity to one of California's most distinctive national parks make it a natural fit for short-term rentals. Guests can return each evening to a quiet small-town atmosphere after days spent hiking volcanic trails, fishing on Lake Almanor, or driving scenic forest roads, with enough variety to fill long weekends in every season.